For large building construction projects, tower cranes are used quite frequently. These machinery are rather essential for heavy lifting as well as positioning supplies and equipment. Tower cranes provide a unique configuration which offers many advantages over more conventional cranes. These advantages consist of: higher vertical lift, quiet electrical operation, increased capacities, and reduced space requirements.
Hammerhead Crane
A hammerhead crane is a different design that is most often associated with a tower crane. In this case, a long horizontal jib is attached to a vertical tower. One end of the jib acts as a counterweight and the other end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite. On the hammerhead crane, there is a trolley. This trolley holds the lifting cable and travels along the length of the jib. The tower crane is capable of operating anywhere within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
A self-erecting crane is capable of completely assembling itself at the jobsite without any help from a secondary crane. This greatly saves time in equipment costs and provides a huge advantage in setup time too. Self-erecting cranes are usually remote-controlled from the ground, though there are some models which have an operator cab built onto the jib.
The self-erecting crane is normally freestanding to allow them the opportunity to be moved around. There are several models which have a telescoping tower that allows the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Most urban work settings do not have enough space or clearance for the jib to freely rotate without existing buildings blocking its movement. A luffing jib tower crane is great for such confined spaces. Most tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The operator is able to lower or raise a luffing jib in order to allow the crane to swing in a reduced radius.